Sottnd resonator



Feb. 19 19,211.A 1,484,119

w. o.. ERM-:ss011111) RESONATOR -RrroRNgy Patented Feb. 19j-1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

WrLLIAnI o. EnBEspor EvEanrr, WASHINGTON.

, SOUND RESONATOR.

Application led February 7, 1923. Serial No. 617,528.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM O. ERBES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, in the county of Snohomish and State of Washington, have invented a new modifying sounds produced mechanically `or by the human voice, and is designed to take the place of and to set forth an improved construction on the invention disclosed in my application No. 479,375, or sound 'resonator for phonographs, filed by me in the United States Patent Oiiice on June 21st, 1921.

The objects of my invention are, to provide a device constructed entirely of wood,

and having a sound chamber and sound-` ing board, to be used in connection with talking machines, for radio receiving and transmitting, or with the human voice,

adapted to amplify and enrich the tones carried thereby; to provide a construction which in effect will simulate the resonant properties'of a violin; to provide means whereby the and rendered more resonant, for public speaking, for making announcements, or in connection with music simultaneously conveyed by the device; to provide a flexible connection for the tone arm and reproducei of a phonograph. or the like, with its disc actuating mechanism, which will improve the quality of the tonesproduced and practically do away with what is termed the scratch; and, to provide an auxiliary sound outlet by means of which extraneoussounds are eliminated and the tones rendered full, rounded and more harmonious.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure l is a viewin perspective illustrating how the device is connected up with a talking machine, and including a mouthpiece for the resonator, a stand for the disc actuating' mechanism of said machine,'and` a broken off section'of a supporting table for the assembly. i

Fig. 2,1a central longitudinal section of the resonator complete, drawn on the line human voice can be amplified.

removed.

Fig. 3,l a plan view of the sound chamber,

"indicating the sounding board, its means of attachment to the chamber, and the supports for the amplifier in place and extending upwardly through openings in the top of the chamber. This resonator is a structure compose entirely of wood; a select close-grained spruce, koa wood, mahogany or any other wood possessing sufficient vibratory qualities being suitable. To fully,y realize the advantages of this wood construction in imparting resonance to the sounds conveyed through the resonator,^the parts should be so cut and assembled as to permit the rain of the wood to extend longitudinally, w ereever possible, as indicated in Fig. l. For the same purposes the device, in its preferred form, is pegged and glued'together the use of metal being eliminated.'

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the sound chamber 1, a vrectangular structure as shown, carries within it a` sounding board 2, frustro-conical in outline, which is secured to the inner periphery 01':

the top by a single central support 3. Three y supports 4f, rectangular in cross-section, are connected with said board and extend upwardly through openings 5, in the top of the chamber, Fig. 3,;an`d are spaced away therefrom. Said lsupports are also secured to the ampliiier, as indicated in Fig. 2, and provide, inconnection with the sounding board, a flexible connection therefor.

This flexibility is attained by reason of the -fac'tthat the sounding board 2 is held in a dependent position within lthe sound chamber, about centrally thereof and spaced away from the sides, its single means of attachment to the chamber being the medial support 8, a block pegged and glued to the sounding board and the top as 1ndicated in Fig. 2. The three supports connecting the amplifier with the sounding' 4board are secured in place ina similar manner, as shown in the last-named ligure. The means of attachment just described,.together with the resilient propertiesof the materialused,

. 2-2 of Fig. 1, said mouthpiece having been y nection; more apparent at the reduced end of the sounding board, where it is particularly needed. yllhe function of this feature will be described hereafter.

rllhe amplifier is provided with a hollow flared portion 6, which obviously is the primary outlet for sounds to be conveyed thereby.` A hollow neck portion 7 communicates with said flared portion, .is fixedly attached thereto, and terminates at its free. end in an auxiliary sound outlet 8.

An upstanding sound conduit 9, disposed between said portions, is secured to and communicates therewith. lt is provided with an angular section 10, adapted to direct the sound wave-s toward the flared end, and at the same time afford a construction which is economical in cost and permits the parts'to be assembled so that the grain of the wood will extend lengthwise, in aid of resonancy The conduit terminates at its free end in a socket l1 to receive and carry the tone arm and reproducer of a talking machine.

VThe auxiliary sound outlet 8, in addition to the functions hereinafter described, serves as a modulating vent; it gives free action to the sound waves, and takes away any echo that'might otherwise exist. lts harmonious effect upon the tones can be readily ascertained by placing or removing the hand on or from this outlet when the resonator is in action.

"ln Fig. l, which illustrates the device as connected up with'a phonograph, or the like, and in operative position for vocal accompaniment therewith, 2O denotes a table, shown in broken sections, for supporting the entire device Vand connections, 21 a stand in which the disc actuating mechanism is mounted, 22 a'crank for winding the same, 28 a tone arm and reproducer seated on said sound conduit, and a mouthpiece for voicing purposes.

Inr utilizing the resonator, in connection with aphonograph as shown in Fig. 1, the tone arm, carrying the reproducer, is mounted in the socketv 1l in the free end of the conduit. This conduit, located as it is rearwardlypfffthe flaredportion and adjacent the single support connected with the smaller end ofthe sounding board, is in a position to take advantage ofthe flexibility imparted to the amplifier bythe natural resilienc'y lof the wood and the construction heretofore described. It affords a seat having just enough flexibility to produce the proper tones from'the instrument, and at the Sametime"lessenv wear on the needles `and 4records used and eliminate the scratching sounds often produced when the'tone arm i's'mount'ed'inor'e rigidly. TheI detachable 'mouthpiece 24 is useful when it" desired 'to sing' 'orl whistle an "accompartiment fte instrumental music' played by the phonograph, or to be spoken into when using the resonator for making announcements or in public speaking. 0r, for the same purposes, by removing the mouthpiece, an electric amplifier with a telephone connection can be inserted in the auxiliary sound outlet 8, thereby imparting added resonance and volume to the tones. Said amplifier may also be utilized in receiving or sending sounds by radio; the mouthpiece being dispensed with, and the amplifier mounted in the outlet last referred to.

As the ydevice is sensitive both for the reception and transmission of sounds it may be used, when mounted in a convenient place, by night watchmen in detecting unusual sounds.v By placing the ear to the auxiliary sound outlet, either with or without the mouthpiece, said sounds become more audible and distinct.

The features heretofore mentioned unite in producing, in connection with the different means described for their employment, not only amplification of tone but modification as well, in that the sounds conveyed are rendered more vibrant and sonorous, and harsh sounds produced mechanically are either eliminated or reduced to the minimum.

'l claim:

l. ln a device of the class described, an amplifier comprising a hollow body having a horizontal lower portion, one'end defining an outwardly and upwardly flared portion, the other end a neck portion provided with a 100 'sound outlet, and a hollowupstandingsound conduit disposed between said portions and communicating therewith, .terminating at its free end in a socket adapted to carry a tone arm of a talking machine.

2. In a vdevice of the class described, an amplifier made of wood the grain of which is longitudinally disposed, having a hollow body provided with a horizontal lower portion, one end defining an outwardly and up- 110 wardly flared portion, theI other end a straight neck portion terminating in a sound outlet, a hollow angular member rectangular in cross-section disposed between said flared and neck portions and communicating therewith, said member .being inclined toward the flared portion, anda hollow vertically extending member rectangular in cross-section communicating withy the angular member, and provided at its free end with a seat for a tone arm of a'talking machine.

3. :In a device of the class described, a sound chamber provided with a sounding board frustro-conical in outline disposed within .the chamber and spaced from the l sides thereof, a central support for the board securing the same to the inner periphery of the top of the chamberV and spacing the board away therefrom,"a plurality of upstanding 4supportssecured to the upper 13 surface of the board and adjacent each end 'mounted therein, a plurality of supports'sethereof, extending above and spaced away cured to the board and extending through 10 from openings in the top of the chamber, and spaced away from the top of the chami affording a iexible connection for an amber, adapted to provide, in co-operation with 5 plifer adapted to be mounted on said lastthe board, a flexible mounting for an amplnamed supports. fier, and an amplifier mounted on the sup- 4. In a device of the class described havports.

ing a sound chamber, a sounding board WILLIAM O. ERBES. 

